Western Germany’s Retort To Russia

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28265, 1 May 1957, Page 13

Western Germany’s Retort To Russia

(Rec. 8 p.m./ BONN, April 29. The West German Government did not intend to equip its forces with atomic weapons, the West German Foreign Minister (Dr. Heinrich von Brentano) said today.

Dr. von Brentano was making a Government declaration at a press conference on a Soviet Note last Saturday. This Note warned West Germany of the “terrible danger” of equipping her forces with atomic weapons or allowing the Western Powers to station atomic weapons on her territory. “I have the impression that the Soviet Union is first of all inter-’ ested in creating for itself a monopoly in the possession of nuclear weapons in order thus to keep this continent, in the long run, in continued dependence,” said Dr. von Brentano. He said the Soviet Note asserted that West Germany had offered her territory for the stationing of nuclear weapons by the Western Powers. The Federal Government had not offered anything unilaterally. The N.A.T.O. States were a unity whose territories was defended together. I The assertion in the Note that

West Germany had become the main arms depot of Europe and the main striking power of N.A.T.O. for atomic war was completely incomprehensible, he said. Dr. von Brentano said that in West Germany, towards the end of this year, when five German divisions would have been added to the N.A.T.O. * forces, there would be about 20 divisions, whereas in East Germany there were 400,000 Soviet fighting troops, about 8000 tanks, and about 1500 aircraft. In addition, there were about 150.000 men in the East German People’s Army. In addition. 75 divisions were in the Soviet satellite countries and another 153 divisions with about 20.000 aircraft were in the Soviet Union, which also had more than 500 submarines. “It is simply incredible how one, in the face of such a preponderance of power. • can say that the Federal Republic has become the main arms depot of Europe.” Dr. von Brentano said. Answering a statement in the Soviet Note that West Germany was the only European State demanding frontier changes. Dr. von

Brentano said it was the Soviet Union which had, by violence, made changes in Europe.

The West German Government hoped, he said, that the Soviet Union would accept effective armament control without which any disarmament was an illusion. “It lies in the hands of the Soviet Union to give peace to the world by accepting a comprehensive disarmament agreement which includes atomic weapons.” Dr. von Brentano continued that the Soviet Union in recent weeks had sent numerous threatening letters and Notes calling on European Powers to renounce atomic armament.

“In none of these Notes or letters has the Soviet Union indicated that in case of such a renunciation she would be ready to help toward a just solution of the political problems of Europe, and to remove from these peoples the constant threat which stems from her own extremely large power,” he said.